Update from Minister Flanagan on Commission of Investigation – Minister sets out information & counselling services available

Wednesday 18th June 2014

Following  the  announcement last week of the establishment of a Commission

of  Investigation  into  Mother  and  Baby  Homes  and related matters, the

Minister  for  Children  and  Youth  Affairs wishes to provide an update on

progress  to  date  and to draw to the attention of relevant members of the

public the information and counselling services which are available.

Minister Flanagan stated:

“The  first  important  point  to note is that a special e-mail address has

been  created  to facilitate submissions from organisations and individuals

in  relation  to  the  proposed Commission of Investigation into Mother and

Baby  Homes.  Submissions are invited regarding information relevant to the

scoping  exercise  now  underway,  e.g. the institutions or locations which

should  be  considered for inclusion or the general matters which the Terms

of Reference should require the Commission to examine.

“The  Government  is  anxious  to  have  the  Commission  of  Investigation

established  before  the  Dáil  recess  and  has set a tight deadline. I am

urging  those who wish to make submissions to act without delay in availing

of this opportunity to inform the considerations now underway.

“As  well  as  working closely with my own officials, it is my intention to

meet  a  number  of  key  advocacy groups and to have further meetings with

spokespersons of other political parties in the next couple of weeks. It is

important  that we all work together to progress this important initiative,

mindful  always  of  those  who spent time in Mother and Baby Homes and the

need  to  be sensitive to their situations and to act efficiently to put an

effective Commission in place.”

The Commission will be statutory and independent and will operate under the

Commission  of  Investigations  Act,  2004.  The  process  of  developing a

detailed terms of reference for the Commission is being supported by a high

level Cross Departmental Review Committee.  The Committee continues to meet

and  is  collecting  a  range  of  information  in  preparation for further

detailed  consideration  by Government. The Group will report to Government

before the end of June 2014.

Government  will  also decide upon the composition of the Commission which,

under  the  Commission of Investigations Act 2004, can be made up of one or

more  members.  The  Minister  for  Children  and Youth Affairs has already

confirmed  that  it  is  the  Government’s intention that the scope of this

Investigation  will  go  beyond  the  home  operated  by the Sisters of Bon

Secours  in  Tuam and will deal with other Mother and Baby Homes, including

the  Bethany Home.  There have been calls for inclusion of a range of other

institutions  and concerns and these will be given consideration as part of

the  process  underway.   Further information in relation to the Commission

will  be  communicated publicly by Government as soon as these matters have

been decided and information is available.

Information and Counselling Services

Minister Flanagan stated:

“There  are a number of services available to those affected by the matters

being  considered in the context of Mother and Baby Homes. In particular, I

am  conscious  that there is a demand for information and my Department has

worked  with  the  HSE  in  relation  to  arrangements for the provision of

information.

There  is  now  a  telephone  Information line available for people seeking

information  or  details  of  support  available to those affected by these

issues.   Those  seeking  such  information  may telephone the HSE National

Information  Line;  Low Call Telephone 1850 24 1850 during Monday to Friday

9am to 5 pm.

Those  affected can also directly contact the CONNECT free telephone out of

hours  professional  counselling and support service where they can talk in

confidence  with  a trained counsellor.  CONNECT is an out of hours service

available from 6-10pm. It normally operates from Wednesday to Sunday but it

is  currently  operating seven evenings per week as part of the response to

those  affected  by  the Mother and Baby Homes coverage. The CONNECT out of

hours service is contactable at Freephone 1800 477 477 from the Republic of

Ireland and 00800 477 477 77 from Northern Ireland and the UK.

The  National  Counselling  Service  is  also  available  to  assist  those

affected.    The  HSE  National  Counselling  Service  is  a  professional,

confidential counselling and psychotherapy service available free of charge

in  all  regions  of  the  Health  Service  Executive  for  adults who have

experienced  trauma  and  abuse  in  childhood with priority given to adult

survivors  of institutional abuse in Ireland.   Callers to the HSE National

Information line will be connected to a local service.

Finally,  those  seeking  adoption  information and tracing information may

wish to visit the following sites:

Túsla (the Child and Family Agency) – www.tusla.ie or

The Adoption Authority of Ireland – www.aai.gov.ie.